Habous Quarter (Quartier des Habous)

The Habous Quarter, also called the Nouvelle Médina, lies south of the Royal Palace in Casablanca, Morocco. Built by French colonial authorities from the 1910s to the 1930s, it combines traditional Moroccan forms with planned streets, arcades, courtyards and white buildings with green-tiled roofs. It was designed to house Moroccan residents of the growing city and is still an active neighbourhood rather than a museum. Visitors walk arcaded streets lined with leather and brass shops, bookstalls, olive and date sellers, and cafes, and pass the Mohammed V Mosque and the Mahkama du Pacha, the former courthouse of the Pasha, which is the quarter's main architectural highlight. Pastry shops are famous for sweets such as almond and honey cakes, and the quarter is a popular place to buy dates, spices, mint tea sets, babouches and handicrafts at fixed or moderately negotiable prices. Allow two to three hours to explore at an easy pace, including time for a tea or coffee. The best photo angles are the arched arcades, the minaret seen down the main lane, and the Mahkama's carved doors and courtyards. Weekday mornings are the calmest; weekends and holiday evenings bring Moroccan families and larger tour groups. Many shops close for midday prayers on Friday, so visits then are less rewarding. Access is by petit taxi from downtown, costing around MAD 15-25, and visitors can walk the lanes freely without a ticket. Visitors who want context may hire a local guide at the entrance, and should agree the price beforehand. Dress is casual but modest is advised, particularly near the mosque.